mcnach

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1435234403' post='2806781'] It's a female heckler, I thought ? [/quote] females have mums too. Not a response I'd personally use, but just pointing out the gender of the heckler is irrelevant.

After a few days away, I arrived back to find that box waiting for me. Yup, last week I succumbed and ordered a Matt Freeman Precision. Do I need a P-bass? Yes, of course. But do I need *another* P-bass. Of course not. But look at it. It's yummy. That maple tint, the neck dimensions, black or "vintage" white... a brief moment of weakness and the deed was done. I opened the box this afternoon, adjusted the truss rod a fraction and brought the saddles down a tiny bit... nice lowish action, it plays fantastic. It looks even better. I was starting this thinking of "budget instruments today... nothing like they used to be, these are really good quality!" but of course, at £360 they're not exactly budget. Yes, that's still a lot cheaper than a Fender, but it's no longer the bottom of the range. However, the midrange instruments used to be decidedly "midrange", but some of the midrange instruments these days are just really really good! I went to rehearsal this evening with this bass... and I loved it. The pickup is not exactly my favourite sound, but I'm really splitting hairs: it is good! Very good! It can get a little muddy or a little clanky, but I'm really being picky. There really is no need to replace anything in this bass. Did I mention how good it looks too? The neck is somewhere between my Classic 50 and the Maruszczyk Jake: reassuringly full, but not too much of a handful. Very nice profile. The finish is impeccable. I still prefer the Classic 50, it sounds a little bit better, it's a little lighter and a little better balanced, although the neck on the Squier is a bit more comfy. Just a hair. But the Squier is a close second. Got a gig in Aberdeen this weekend, first time we play in that city. I'm bringing the Squier!

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1434886023' post='2803542'] Funnily enough I find the cab the biggest problem... [/quote] unfortunately true... well, that, and the fact that I'm the guy playing but I can't find a suitable alternative for the latter

Ah... but I used the MarkBass combo on Friday night and it was BEAUTIFUL. No, the P pickup is still not my favourite, but the whole bass came alive... I rarely use the gear provided at venues, but just my luck that as I get my new bass my first gigs were without my own amps. Awesome bass. I bought a few pickups to experiment now... One thing is sure, the double J stays. That one sounds great.

[quote name='Norris' timestamp='1434819192' post='2803078'] It's a dilemma. There is a bass rig provided which means you don't have to set up and pack down yours. Do you use it? Last night I used the one provided and really wished I'd used my own. It was a rack mount Fender thing (yep, that unimpressed I didn't bother to remember the model) with way too many knobs, buttons and sliders, into Hartke 2x10 and 1x15 cabs. Echoes like you only get in village halls (actually a local football club) didn't help me trying to dial in a decent sound. I wish I'd have used my Rumble combo [/quote] I generally bring my own. If there's PA support then I might just bring one small cab and head, or the little MarkBass combo. 85% of the times I use the provided rig I'm not happy with the sound: it may be reasonable out front, but terrible onstage which makes it more difficult for me than necesary, and takes away a lot of the fun. So I try to use my own stuff.

[quote name='spaz91' timestamp='1394744870' post='2394801'] So, re: the Markbass: 1. Does the small cab size make it sound boxy and thin? 2. Is it hand portable, in your opinion? 3. Though the official website strictly prohibits it, is it possible to replace the amplifier with a different model? 4. Is 12" really enough speaker coverage to play with a drummer? [/quote] 1) Not at all, not even close. Small cab, small box, but sounds "proper". It doesn't move as much air as bigger ones, obviously, but that only affects volume, not the quality of the sound. 2) Quite. It's still 12-14Kg, 'though, so I would not like to carry it for miles from that handle... it's bulky enough to make it uncomfortable after a few hundred metres, but I can't imagine you can get something that does the job if this that can be more easily transported. 3) I've seen people do that. Yes. You can remove the head too, but it'll be missing the top plate. 4) I've played gigs, full band, with only the MarkBass. Granted, we were not very loud in those situations, but it worked. However I'd generally want an extension cab. I have used a Schroeder mini10 (smaller than the MarkBass combo) and together it sounded beautiful and pretty big. More often I used a Barefaced Compact *or* BB2... now THAT gets loud. Most times I only require a stage monitor, really, as the bass will have PA support... for that the combo is fantastic: walk in, set up easily, it sounds good, plenty loud for a small stage... unplug and walk out, simples. I love mine. It's not for every situation, but it can cover a lot of ground.

[quote name='ubit' timestamp='1434777072' post='2802704'] I don't know where you get those figures. We played a bar last weekend and out of about 100 people, I knew about 3 vaguely! Just to add, it was our local [/quote] that's what I find too most bars with live music around here, people go to have a drink or sixteen while there's live music playing, they don't really seem to choose to go depending on who is playing. Of course, some notice that so and so is playing and make a point of going but the vast majority just go to the bar and see what happens. Last night, for instance, we were playing at one of the best known music bars in town, where we play about once a month. We're an originals band. There are some people who know us personally and show up, but only a handful. I could recognise a few that seem to follow us around (we gave some of them T-shirts of the band that we just made, I hope next time I see some of the shirts around and makes us feel important ), but the vast majority were just the regular bar goers that would have been there regardless of who played.

[quote name='Weststarx' timestamp='1434749793' post='2802614'] Hi Guys, We've just booked a gig for next week due to a cancellation but been warned by the band that cancelled that there is always one lady that goes every week and likes to heckle the bands. Personally I have never had anyone heckle me in any band I've been in, so I'm a little unsure how to deal with it! Apparently her favourite line is "Get on with it!" in between songs. Any advice on how to cleverly deal with a heckler? Thanks [/quote] if that's all she does... ignore her. But, perhaps she has a point? Don't spend too long between songs, avoid silences and don't talk too much... really, get on with it Maybe that other band does all that!

[quote name='zawinul' timestamp='1434741483' post='2802472'] can you send me Adrian's email please I 'd like to talk about a killer fretless I have been brooding on for ages! [/quote] the email is at the bottom of their website here: [url="http://www.public-peace.de/index.php/maruszczyk-instruments"]http://www.public-peace.de/index.php/maruszczyk-instruments[/url]

[quote name='lojo' timestamp='1434725573' post='2802255'] I'm not sure , I think 1/3 of a pub gig audience usually have a connection to the band [/quote] how big of an audience are we talking about?

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1434734170' post='2802368'] I'm familiar with a lot of bass guitar sounds, but I don't really know what the term 'growl' actually means. I'm told my SR760 has loads of it, but don't really know what aspect of the sound that refers to. [/quote] you're not making it angry enough, so it doesn't growl at you yet.

will keep eyes and ears open... bastards.

[quote name='UglyDog' timestamp='1434707345' post='2801998'] Good point lojo. Double booking affects punters too, [/quote] but I doubt many care which band is at the pub that night... so it works for the pub

[quote name='shemeckfrac' timestamp='1434716283' post='2802115'] After you get it please share the details / pics [/quote] Obviously!!! This is Basschat!!!

[quote name='shemeckfrac' timestamp='1434296614' post='2798399'] Such and Mcnach -- I appreciate sharing your honest thoughts and details that I would've otherwise never think of. The common line seems to be "if you want something Adrian will customise it for you for very reasonable or no cost". My problem is not knowing what I want. I've been looking at the Jake 5a white. Since I'm not keen on Delanos in general (although I don't know if in this particular case they wouldn't be the best fit), my first thought was to swap them for equivalent Haeussle pickups because apparently they sound "more retro" and that (I think) appeals to me. But I'm not sure if I played this bass blindfolded with Haeussles and Delanos which ones I'd actually choose. Also, perhaps single coils would be a better choice as opposed to humbuckers ? .... decisions decisions. Another dilemma is whether I should leave the standard hardware or upgrade to ETS brigde (+50 Euro) and Hipshot machineheads (+140 Euro). I wonder if it would make the difference to the sound or playability at all. I was also considering going for the "Europe" body i.e. with resonance hollows (~40% increase in total cost). This would reduce the weight from the current 4.3kg by maybe 0.5 kg and probably improve the resonance but is that what I really need on this type of bass? How would you configure your Jake 5a ???? [/quote] In case I didn't make my position clear before, because words are cheap... I have an announcement to make: I just started the process with Adrian to have another bass made for me. It's another Jake, but not like you know them. A while ago I was experimenting and decided I'd really like a bass with certain characteristics, but nobody seems to make one like it. I spoke to a luthier I know about it but we didn't get far. He builds acoustic instruments, and he's very good at it, I'm sure he'd build a wonderful electric bass... but the whole thing fizzled out. Now, after my experience with the Jake P/JJ, I am certain that Adrian is the man. First few emails exchanged, pictures and diagrams attached... he's made a few cool suggestions expanding my options, I have a good idea of the final cost too... It's time to sit down and nail all those specifications right. I have a couple of basses that I'm unlikely to require any more that will be for sale very very soon!

[quote name='gsgbass' timestamp='1434490445' post='2800216'] Am. Std. Precision. [/quote] what a beauty!

[quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1434465546' post='2799868'] Speak to basschat member TimAl his work is spot on [/quote] Maybe that works better than emailing from their website... I did and they never replied! Ended up going elsewhere.

[quote name='Meddle' timestamp='1434223805' post='2797815'] I picked up at GB74 off of Ebay last month for ~£240 or so. Maybe less. Mine is the 'open pore natural' finish with the black pickguard. From the top, in my opinion: Good points: The neck! I've never played a bass with such a solid neck. It fits perfectly in my hands and I have not had to touch the trussrod at all. The body! It is like my Fender Jazz,but with 20% of the unnecessary bloat lopped off. It is very comfortable to play and balances really well. The bridge! Seems to be a higher mass unit than your usual Fender unit. The tuners! Licensed Hipshot Ultralites rather than anonymous Fender clones. Keeps the balance right as well. Bad points: The preamp! They used a generic 3-band unit in these, with the bass and treble controls stacked and the mid control allocated its own pot. I found that the treble control didn't dial out enough treble for me, so you cannot get that pillowy Motown sound out of the instrument. The stacked knobs were also loose on mine and I had to remove washers to get the whole thing to tighten up again as the thread had been worn off the pot by the previous owner. I pulled the preamp out and replaced it with an Alembic Stratoblaster clone. The bridge pickup! On my GB74 this pickup was wired with the coils in series. It overpowered the neck pickup badly, and didn't sound very nice. I detected a baked-in mid-range bark on all settings. I rewired it in parallel. Did Cort screw up? The black wire was connected to hot and the white wire connected to ground! Perhaps the previous owner Barry'd up the bass before I got it (they broke off a pickguard screw and superglued the head back onto the pickguard leaving the broken shaft buried into the wood. The neck pickup! A squashy single coil that doesn't blend well with the bridge pickup. If you EQ your rig for the tight, rubber-bullet attack of the bridge pickup then you won't have a tone that also works with the mooshy output of the neck pickup. It sounds a bit like a P bass, but somehow lacks balls. I stuck a stacked Carvin humbucker in neck slot and have not looked back! The slap switch! What is this thing? A preset EQ curve? In my opinion Cort build a beautiful looking bass, did a brilliant job on the fit and finish of the body and neck, but half-assed the electronics. There is a reason 100% of the Youtube videos of this bass feature some guy slapping away. Great for brittle slap tones but not so hot for other uses. I've modified mine to be an all-round instrument. [/quote] good review! I agree with a lot of it. Mine is incredibly light too... I have some pickups in my drawer that I mean to use on it (Seymour Duncan SMB4A and Nordstrand NJ4SE, leftover from previous projects) and a John East U-Retro preamp... One day, one day. Perhaps I should have it sprayed shell pink too... and I am only half joking! I've played a few gigs with it as it is... not the best, but it does work.

[quote name='such' timestamp='1434208533' post='2797650'] I wouldn't (and won't) hesitate to have another one built by those guys, but this time I'll make sure to specify the hardware and electronics to my exact taste so there's absolutely nothing I don't care for about the bass. [/quote] exactly my feeling!

[quote name='shemeckfrac' timestamp='1434207292' post='2797634'] Now this got me wondering; despite all the praises about workmanship, sound and value Spyder ended up selling his Jake 5, Elmwood 4 pair and Meypelnek his custom PJ5 shortly after receiving it. Is it possible that there is no long lasting love to these basses but only the GAS lust ? It's really these people's business but from the potential buyer point of view I'm dying to know why [/quote] I don't know... My Jake is as accurate to what I asked for as possible. I don't *love* everything about it, but what I don't love about it I only have myself to blame for. For instance, the neck is wider and a bit deeper than a "stock" Jake, closer to my Precision Classic 50, as I indicated. He nailed it. The neck is amazing. The string spacing at the nut is a *tiny* bit smaller than I would prefer... I did not indicate this measurement. Easy to change, 'though, especially as these basses have a zero fret so the exact nut slot heights are not crucial. Also, the P pickup is a bit darker and scooped... I went for their stock pickups rather than specifying my favourite one... Just my fault. Again, easy to rectify. Mine cost just about what a Fender Precision Classic 50 costs... but I was able to specify many parameters (a lot of them at no extra cost). For another couple hundred you could add a few extra things that would rival basses costing twice as much... They'll do just about anything you ask. The build quality is superb. I strongly suspect my next bass will be another Maruszczyc.

My Classic 50 Precision. There are many others I love, but this Precision is the one (ask me next year and we'll see )

[quote name='ped' timestamp='1434187864' post='2797399'] Hi chaps This is what's happened - you've probably gone back a page during the listing/paying process and as such both 'items' have been added to your basket. You need to start all over again, probably clear your cookies too. Hope that helps, let me know if you have any problems ped [/quote] like this

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1434151002' post='2797256'] You post some good stuff man, but why wouldn't you just email the mods about this rather than start a thread. I just don't get it, [/quote] Why not? If something was not clear to him about the process, I'm pretty sure he would not be the only person to benefit from the answer. Emailing the mods would solve his problem. As a thread, it could help others too. Don't you think?